Orange County Government participated in the national initiative, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 27 and hosted the children of more than 200 employees from a number of departments and divisions across the County.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event gathered children in the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chambers for a special mock BCC hearing. The hearing discussed the possibility of a new park. Children were also able to participate in various activities planned by each division.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs public servants, your mom or dad work very hard to keep our County running effectively and efficiently, while also ensuring that the needs of our citizens are met,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said during her remarks. \u201cWhat they do has an impact on everyone who lives in our community. And, their hard work and dedication are a big part of what makes Orange County the best place to live, work and raise a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The purpose of this event is to provide students with a firsthand look at local government in action and how it positively impacts our society. The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work program is intended to go beyond the average practice of \u201cshadowing\u201d an adult. The main goal is to expose children to what their mom or dad does throughout the average work day, showing them the value of hard work and education.<\/p>\n
Orange County District 6 Commissioner Victoria P. Siplin welcomed participants, provided an overview of the local government process and how the BCC operates.<\/p>\n
After the mock hearing, Mayor Jacobs spoke about her \u201cLet\u2019s Read\u201d initiative, a partnership between Orange County Government, the Orange County Public Library System, the Orange County Citizens\u2019 Commission for Children and Just 1 Book aimed at improving literacy and providing library cards to all Orange County residents. Children had the opportunity to sign up for library cards and learn more about Just 1 Book, a charity that collects and distributes books to children, including Orange County\u2019s Head Start programs and other community organizations.<\/p>\n